"Your dreads just don't look like other people's."

For the last three months I've decided to let my hair dread, my mother has been harsh andjudgmental about it. She insists that my dreadlocks don't look like the "coiled ones" she sees people with at malls. It angers me how someone who got their "dreadlocks" instant made at a salon is being compared to my journey by my mother like this. She calls my hair ratty and constantly makes snide remarks about it... I just wanted to encourage the dreading community to be self confident despite the negative remarks from even people close to you. I'm loving my journey and am proud to be growing dreadlocks.

I just looked at your pics Panga...looks like dreads to me! And SE is absolutely correct...dreads are like fingerprints and unique to every individual! I was at Venice Beach yesterday and saw about 200 dreadies (the most I have experienced in one place!). I talked to alot of people too and all of them were very supportive and nice. They gave me lots of praise and encouragement. This one Jamaican guy told me..."You go on giving them luv sister, they grow, they be happy that way...you on the right path". It made me feel great. Even in a sea of locs, I never saw two heads that were the same...amazing.

Panga said:

I've had numerous people say the same thing and that they don't look like dreads at all.

I have been told that, too. And I ended up being convinced to put wax in my hair. BUT once I bought the wax and looked at it with the lid off, I decided I'd rather not put that sh*t in muh hair. :/

Everyone else is right, "dreads are like fingerprints." They are not supposed to look like anyone else's. Nobody looks like a human before they are born, and your hair will not look like what most people think dreadlocks look like for quite a while. I, too, am glad you are not letting words get to you. Only silly people let stuff like that bother them. Myself included. :P

That's what I'm saying! But most people I run into think they are supposed to be instant, perfectly maintained and uniform. I agree with Haley - I love my hair more now than I have ever!

Panterra Caraway said:

I just looked at your pics Panga...looks like dreads to me! And SE is absolutely correct...dreads are like fingerprints and unique to every individual! I was at Venice Beach yesterday and saw about 200 dreadies (the most I have experienced in one place!). I talked to alot of people too and all of them were very supportive and nice. They gave me lots of praise and encouragement. This one Jamaican guy told me..."You go on giving them luv sister, they grow, they be happy that way...you on the right path". It made me feel great. Even in a sea of locs, I never saw two heads that were the same...amazing.

Panga said:

I've had numerous people say the same thing and that they don't look like dreads at all.